Croatia was after their first victory against the USA in Group G of the World Handball Championship on Sunday in Sweden. Recall Croatia lost to Egypt in the first round on Friday 22:31.
The USA defeated Morocco 28:27 on Friday to earn its first World Championship win, breaking their 25-game losing streak.
Before tonight’s game, Croatia played one match against the USA at the World Championship, in 2001 in France, when they won (41:12).
Losing to Egypt did not threaten Croatia’s chance for a spot in the second round of this competition, but it made the path to the quarter-finals a bit more difficult, which was the first goal of this new Croatia team.
Josip Šarac was in the lineup for tonight’s match, while Zvonimir Srna watched the match from the stands.
Match recap
The USA did not take advantage of their first attack, but Croatia did. Karačić scored for 1:0. Blanco leveled the score for 1:1 in the 3rd minute.
Musa scored after a nice assist from Šarac. Ian Hueter scored, but Šarac quickly countered. The USA took the lead at 4:3 in the 6th minute.
Musa made it 4:4 two minutes later. After goals from Jelinić, Šarac, Glavaš, and Karačić, it was 9:5 for Croatia in the 12th minute. And it was 12:5 for Croatia in the 14th minute.
After a few goals from the USA, it was 13:7 for Croatia in the 17th minute. Glavaš scored a penalty for 14:7 in the 19th minute.
Jelinić scored for 15:7 in the 22nd minute. In the 26th minute, Šarac made it 17:8. Cindrić scored his first goal of the game in the 29th minute.
The first half ended 20:10 for Croatia.
A nice play and goal by Karačić opened the second half. Šarac scored his 5th goal of the game in the 34th minute and scored again for 25:12 in the 36th minute.
Mihićev scored his first goal of the game one minute later. Karačić scored his 5th goal in the 43rd minute for +15 – 30:15.
With 10 minutes to go, Croatia was up 32:18.
Karačić scored for 33:18 in the 52nd minute. With this result, Croatia has mathematically secured their spot in the second round.
With five minutes to go, Croatia led 37:20.
And with a minute left, it was 39:22 for Croatia. Mihić scored the final goal for the game for 40:22.
Croatia’s next game is against Morocco on Tuesday, January 17, at 20:30.
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